The Canadian Singer, Celine Dion has revealed she has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease.
The singer told her 5.2 million Instagram followers the condition makes her muscles spasm uncontrollably.
It has also left her with difficulties walking and singing, she said, meaning she will be unable to play planned shows in the UK and Europe next year, according to BBC.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time,” said Dion.
“And it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” the 54-year-old said.
“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects something like one in a million people.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having.”
She added: “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I’m used to.
“It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
On Thursday, Dion reassured her fans that she had “a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better”, while her “precious children” were “supporting me and giving me help”.
She explained: “I’m working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again, but I have to admit it’s been a struggle.
“All I know is singing. It’s what I’ve done all my life and it’s what I love to do the most.
“I miss you so much. I miss seeing all of you [and] being on the stage, performing for you.
“I always give 100% when I do my show but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.”
No longer holding back the tears, the singer signed off by thanking fans for their support, stressing that she had no choice but to focus on her health right now, and hoped she was on the “road to recovery”.
Writing by Fany Olumoye